Surviving Devils Garden: How Not to Get Lost in Arches National Park
Manage episode 478769950 series 3578167
"Okay, I totally panicked." That's the confession I open with on this adventure-packed episode about my experience tackling Devil's Garden in Arches National Park.
What starts as a seemingly straightforward trail quickly becomes one of the most adventurous hikes in the park—a fact I discovered firsthand when I found myself lost, wading through unexpected water crossings, and frantically searching for those elusive cairn markers.
FULL DEVILS GARDEN GUIDE 👉 https://thebucketlistmermaid.com/devils-garden/
🏜️Devil's Garden isn't your average national park stroll. This 8-mile primitive loop transforms dramatically once you venture beyond Landscape Arch, introducing narrow sandstone fins, steep scrambles, and minimal signage. I break down nine critical mistakes that hikers commonly make—many of which I personally experienced—and provide practical solutions for each.
🌲The beauty of Devil's Garden lies not just in its spectacular arches and formations, but in the solitude and connection with nature you can experience, especially with an early morning start.
🥾Despite my moments of panic and wrong turns, this remains my favorite hike in Arches National Park.
🏆I share my hard-earned wisdom on navigation challenges, weather considerations, packing essentials, and knowing when to turn around.
📋Whether you're planning your first visit or looking to retry this trail with better preparation, these tips will help you check Devil's Garden off your bucket list safely and memorably.
Have you had your own trail panic moment? I'd love to hear your hiking stories, triumphant or otherwise!
Let's Go Adventuring:
https://thebucketlistmermaid.com/
Follow the Tail:
@TheBucketListMermaid (YouTube)
@thebucketlistmermaid (Instagram)
@TheBucketListMermaid (Pinterest)
Get in Touch:
[email protected]
Chapters
1. Intro & Trail Panic Confession (00:00:00)
2. Mistake #1: Underestimating Difficulty (00:00:55)
3. Mistakes #2-3: Water & Proper Footwear (00:02:34)
4. Mistake #4: Ignoring Trail Markers (00:05:40)
5. Mistakes #5-6: Weather & Packing Issues (00:07:27)
6. Mistakes #7-9: Rushing & Safety Planning (00:10:19)
7. Final Thoughts & Blog Invitation (00:14:21)
37 episodes